Rotatable bin



A. W. MUELLER ROTATABLE BIN July 6, 193 7.

Filed Jan. 8, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ARTHUR n. MusL/ E/a, B

@ATTORNEY July 6, 1937. A. w. MUELLER 2,086,508

ROTATABLE BIN Filed Jan. 8, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 umm . INVENTOR 41 /R THUR I4( Mus/.1.672,

/2 QATTORNEY July 6, 1937. A. W MUELLER 2,086,508

ROTATABLE B IN Filed Jan. 8, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR ARK/w? h4 Mug/LER rATORNEY Patented July c, 1937 BOTATABLE BIN v Arthur W. Mueller, Cincinnati, Ohio, assig'nor to 'The Frick-Gallagher Mfg. Co., Wellston, 0hio,

a corporation of Ohio Application January s, 193s, serial N0. 58,071 claims. (C1. 2li- 131) Another object is to provide a removable bin` front which is exible and adapted to be sprung into place and which is also in contact above and below and in front and in back of a low front l5 ange to the bin oor. i

` A further object is to provide a lock or latching device for a rotatable bin which is effective, slightly yieldable, and adapted to function near the periphery of the bin without thel necessityoi having a separate support for the latch or its cooperative recess.

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a binsection having a number of removable dividers. f

Fig. 2 is a detail showing the configuration of stamped outportions on the flange of4 a removable divider.

Fig. 3 illustratesl a strap portion stamped up from the floor of a bin section.

tion fully engaged within the strap oor. -Y

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

" Fig. 6 is a perspective of a removable bin front.

Fig. '7 is a section on the line 'I-'l of Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8 8 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9 9 of Fig. 8. Fig. lO'is a longitudinal section through a part of a bin section showing a removable divider in said elevation.

Fig. l1 shows perforations in the flange of the divider of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 shows stamped up projections on the base of the bin section shown in Fig..10 and adapted to cooperate with the ilange of Fig. 11.

A rotatable bin section I0 is mounted on an axial supporting post II-and provided with an integral front iiange I2 such as has been described in the copending application of Paul H. Frick, Serial Number 749,366, iledl October' 22,

1934, for Rotatable bin.

A number of permanent dividers I3 have their bottom flanges welded or otherwise secured to the iioor of the bin section'and such dividers may be six in number as illustrated or any other con.-

on the bin Fig. 4A is a top plan view of the ange projecvenient number desired. Between a pair of permanent dividers I3 is shown a removable divider I4 having its front edge lying closely adjacent a removable bin front I5, the bottom ange I6 on said removable dividers I4 being provided with 5 quick detachable connecting means for cooperation with a complementary portion I9 of said quick detachable connection attached to the iloor of said bin section. As shown in vFig. 2 a pair of recesses Il of the shape illustrated are stamped 10 out of the flange I6 to form a tongue I8 therei between, said tongue I8 being adapted to engage under the strap I9 on transverse movement of the divider with respect to the bin iioor.

After the tongue has been pushed through thel strap I9 the removable divider I4 isthen given a slight longitudinal radially outward movement in order for4 the strap I9 to have one of its end portions engaged by the enlarged head portion of the projection I8 as illustrated in' Figs. 4 and 5 to prevent lateral movement of the divider. The inner upstanding edges of the dividers are placed within guides secured to the supporting post and adapted to hold these inner edges of the dividers against transverse movement.

As shown in Fig; 1 the bin section illustrated is providedwith enough straps I9 on its floor to enable additional removable dividers to be used or to enable one removable divider to be placedin different angular positions.

It will vbe understood that each removable divider I4 is secured in position by first engaging its inner edge within one of the guide notches shown, then swinging the divider in a counterclockwise direction as shown in Fig. 1 in order to @move the tongue or projection I8 through the. strap orrecess I9 in the floor of the bin. 'I'he divider is then moved radially outward as illustrated in Fig. 4 until the divider is then' locked against lateral movement. In the same way to disengage or remove a divider I4 it is rst moved radially inward and then given a transverse movement sucient to disengage the tongue I8 from under the strap I9.

The removable bin front shown in Fig. 6 has end flanges 20 and 2| and front anges 22 and 23 bent `over as illustrated to provide suitable means for holding labels or-index cards or other means for identication of the contents of the bin section. The bin front I5 is also provided intermediate the end flanges with a flange 24 extend- Y ing radially inward and adapted to engage the underside of a bin section. As shown in Fig. 6

the flange .2t extends inwardly from the lower front flange 23.

Another intermediate'flange 25 on the bin front is-so shaped and positioned that it is adapti ed to fit over and in back of the integral iront flange l2 of the bin section. Stamped outr of the end flanges and 2i are projections 2B adapted to engage a cooperative recess 21 in .the permanent dividersui3. The portion of the end flanges 20 and 2l adjacent the bin front are cut away at 28 to provide clearance for the integral front flange i2.

In order to secure one of the removable bin fronts in position, .with the bin front swung above the front iiange l2, the end flanges 2@ and 2l are iiexed suiiiciently toward each other to enable them to be inserted contiguous the permanent dividers and with the projections Ziiengaging the recesses 2l. From Fig. 7 it will be seen that the recess 2l is sufficiently larger than the projection 25 and largerthan two projections 26, so as to enable the bin front to have the projections 2S engage the recesses 2l' and then be swung about the projections 26 as pivots until the flange 2t slidesunder the bin section, and the ange 25 over and in back of the front flange i2.

This attachment requires the bin front flanges to be ilexedsumciently'to be sprung into place.l It is removed in a reverse manner to that just described. The recesses 2l in the permanent dividers yare large enough so as to receive the pro'- jection 23 from the opposite side from that con taining the rst'projection 26, so that each'perforation 2l receives two projections, one extending from one side and the other from the opposite side.

In Figs. 10 to 12 is shown the preferred embodiment of a removable divider whose rearedge is received within a guide 29 and whosebottoni flange i6 is provided .with recesses 30 and 3l of the shape illustrated and of a size sufficient to receive the stamped projections 32 and 33 which` extend up from the oor of a bin section. Intermediate the recesses 33 and 3i is a smaller recess 3d for cooperationl with the `two smaller prcjections 35 .and 36 which are also stamped up from the floor of the bin section. After the inner edge of the removable bin section Mthas been-engaged inthe guide 29, the holes l and 3l are adapted to receive the projections 32 and -33 respectively.

On .slight radially outward movement the stamped -up portio 32 and 33 serve as headed projections to ove liea portion of the bottom ange i6 and -hold the divider against transverse movement. During this slight radial outward movement the :flange i6 adjacent the perforation 3d is flexed upwardly until Ithe recess 3d fitlsi over and receives the small unheaded projections es and es.

As shown inv Fig. l0 these small projections are formed by bending up portions of the iioor` ld so as .to constitute with the perforation 3d a yieldable unheaded projection and recessvconnection intermediate the headed projection and recess connections 3d `and 32, 3i and 33. This intermediate connection serves to hold the removable divider I l against being moved even accidentally radially inwardly an amount such that the headed iprojections might be recess connection and ex it in a clockwise direc- 75 tion suflicient to cause the flange i6 to be sprung upwardly intermediate the headed projection and recess` connections until the recess 34 is raised clear of the walls Vof the projections 35 and 36 when a slight .radially inward movement of the divider will then serve to disengage the headed projections 32 land 33 from their recesses 30 and 3 I..

In Figs. 8 and 9 is shown an improved latching or locking device for a bin section which includes arbar 3l provided with-an enlarged portion 38 adapted to abut the supporting post H on which the bin sections are mounted. A portion of the bar 3l extends through the post and out the other side where at 39 it is threaded to receive a nut d for holding the bar securely anchored to the post. The bar 3l then projects radially outward as a cantilever to adjacent the peripheral edge of its bin section. The outer end portion of the bar is made of rectangular shape di so as to be receivedwithin a notch or recess portion d3 formed in a member of strap material whose ends arerspotwelded to the underside of the bin floor. The outer end portion of the bar 3l is given a convenient yshape-d2 to receive a thumb or finger enabling it to be flexed downwardly sufcient to be disengaged from said recess 43 to unlock the bin section and enable it to be rotated about the supporting post li. I

The sides of the member containing the recess 153 are inclined as shown at M and 45, the purpose of such inclination being to exert an automatic wedging of the bar I3l downward so that as the bin section rotates from either direction to bring the recess i3 in alignment with the bar, said bar may be automatically. engaged without the necessity of an operator having to manually ex the bar downward in order to engage its recess and lock the bin against rotation.

The bar 3l is also slightly yieldable laterally' and more iiexible in avertical than in a hori-` zontal plane, or substantially equally iiexible inlboth directions. f

Among the advantagesof this invention may be mentioned the increased convenience and saving in time and labor of assembling additional dividers and bin fronts on -to rotatable bin sections. Instead of having bolts to hold the removable bin fronts and dividers in place it is now possible to quickly and easily attach and remove either a divider or a bin front. s X

The connecting means for quickly detaching andattaching thedividers ano` bin fronts are all formed by stamping operations which makes for economy in production. By making the divider detachable by a longitudinal inward movement the removable divider maybe mounted substan- 1 tially contiguous a removable bin front. If desired, the front edge of the removable divider may be notched to receive the frontflange I2 and enable the forward edge of the divider to be substantially contiguous the removable divider I5. After the divider has been moved longitudinally itis locked against any lateral movement which might cause it to be disengaged.

The intermediate and unheaded projection and recess connection shown in Figs. 11 and 12 functions in the nature' of a snap fastener or yieldable nal movement'and accidental disconnection, and

and the like in part of a bin section. The fact that the removable bin front is sprung into position assists in holding it securely in place when attached.

I claim: 1. A rotary bin section having a curved periph- .,eral portion, a pair of dividers for said bin, a curved front wall for the bin removably connected to the dividers, end flanges on said wall adapted to lie contiguous said dividers, -a projection and recess connection between each divider and end flange'said end flanges being at least slightly flexible to permit engagement and disengagement of saidprojections and recesses. 2. A rotary bin section, avpair of dividers for said bin section, a front wall for the bin removably connected to the dividers, end flanges on said wall adapted to lie contiguous said dividers, a projection and recess connection between each divider and end ange, said end flanges being at least slightly flexible tov permit engagement and disengagement of said projections and recesses, a divider connected tothe floor -of said bin between said pair of dividers and having itsv front end adjacent said front wall, said last mentioned divider being removable from the bin without removal lof said front by sliding said removable 40 divider radially inward.

3. A rotary bin section, a pair of dividers for said bin section, a front wall for the bin removably connected to the dividers, end-flanges on said wall adapted to lie contiguous said dividers,

a projection and recess connection between each divider and end flange, said end flanges being at least slightly flexible to permit engagement and` disengagement of said projections and recesses,

.a divider connected to the floor of said bin be` tween said pair of dividers and having its front 'end adjacent said front wall, said last mentioned divider being removable from the bin without removal of said front by sliding said removable divider radially inward, and a yieldable connection for holding the removable vdivider adjacent the front wall' and against being pushed inward to disengage it fromthe rotatable bin floor.

4. A rotary bin section, a pair of dividers for said bin section, a front wallfor the bin removably connected to the dividers,e'nd flanges on said Wall adapted to lie contiguous said dividers, a projection and recess connection between each divider and end ange, said end flanges being at least slightly flexible to permit engagement and disengagement offsaid-projections and recesses,

a divider connected to the iloor of`said bin between said pair of dividers and having its front end adjacent said front wall, said last mentioned divider being removable from the b inl without removal of said front by sliding said removable divider radially,.inward, and a yieldable connection 'A for holding the removable divider adjacent the front wall and againstbeing pushed inward to disengage it from the yrotatable bin floor, said v75.yieldable connection being adapted to be disengaged by lateral exure of the top of said removable divider.

5. A rotary bin section, a pair of dividers for said bin section, a front wall forfthe bin removably connected to the dividers, end ilanges on said wall adapted to lie contiguous said dividers, a projection and recess connection between each divider and end ange, said end llanges being at least slightly flexible to permit engagement and disengagement of said projections and recesses, said front wall being provided intermediate said end'llanges with a flange adapted to lie substantially contiguous the oor of said bin and the projection and recess connections between said end flanges and Vdividers being loose enough to permit the front wall to have a limited swinging movement about said divider connections in moving said front wall into position, the periphery ,of the bin iloor being provided with an integral flange, and another flange on said removable front adapted to fit around an edge and in back of said lloor flange.

6. A rotary bin section having a peripheral ange bent up from and integral with the floor of said bin section, substantially radial dividers permanently secured to the oor of said bin section, a quick detachable arcuate front adapted to be held in place between said dividers and comprising flanges intermediate its ends at least one of which is adapted to nt under the floor of said'bin section and another of which is adapted to nt over the top edge and in back of said peripheral flange to position said front, and flexible end flanges each adapted to lie contiguous the dividers at one end of said front and to engage said dividers, a lateral projection and recess type connection between each flexible end flange and divider and adapted to be sprung into place before said intermediate flanges have been engaged.

7. A metal shelf having an upstanding divider, the divider having a flange contiguous the shelf andra quick detachable connection between said ilange and shelf comprising a headed. projection on one part for operative engagement with a recess on the other part on relative movement between said dividerand shelf longitudinally of the divider and a second projection and recess connection flxedly positioned between said shelf and ilange and adaptedfor engagement only after the first projection and recess yconnection is fully and operatively` engaged, said second pro jection and recess connection causing iieXure between said flange and'shelf prior to its engagement and after the first projection and recess and lateral movements of said divider with respect to said bin, said divider having a bottom ange provided with a pair of lateral recesses therein, the bin' floor being provided with a stamped up'strap in which a tongue formed between said recesses is adapted to project, said recesses being shaped in such manner that on longitudinal shifting said divider thev end portions of said strap are contiguous portions of the divider on 'each side thereof to prevent the divider being accidentally displaced laterallyr fromqitsengagement with said strar. f

removable divider having a flange contiguous the shelf, means xed with respect to said shelf and cooperating with an end edge portion of the divider above said shelf for holding that edge portion of the vdivider .against Vtransverse movement on the shelf leaving the top of the divider free of such holding means, the divider iiange and shelf being provided with a quick detachable connection comprising longitudinally spaced headed projections on one part and recesses in the other part adapted to engage and hold the divider flange locked .against transversev movement after it has .been moved longitudinally, and a yieldable projection .and recess'connection intermediate the rst mentioned projections and recesses and adapted. to be engaged and disengaged after said rst mentioned recesses and projections are in engagement.

10. The combination with a metal shelf, of a removable divider having a iiange contiguous the shelf, means fixed with respect to said shelf and cooperating with an end edge portion of the divider above said shelf for holding that .edge portion of the divider against transverse movement on the shelf leaving the top of the divider free of such holding means, the divider flange and shelf being provided with a quick detachable connection comprising longitudinally spaced headed projections on one part and recesses in the other part adapted to engage and hold the divider flange locked against transverse movement after it has been moved longitudinally, and

a `yieldable projection and recess connection intermediate the Li'lrst mentioned projections and recesses, said divider being removable by flexing the top of the divider laterally to raise the portion of the ange adjacentv said yieldable connection a suiiicient amount to disconnect said second mentioned projection'and recess and then longitudinally slide the divider to disconnect the first mentioned projection and recess connections.

11.. The combinationfwith a shelf, of a removable partition therefor and a quick detachable ,connection between said partition and shelf requiring lateral flexure ofa part of said' partition to effect a partial disengagementvof said connection followed by a longitudinahmovement of ,the vpartition to complete the disengagement of said connection, said detachable connection being yieldable and including a projection and recess connection between said partitionl and shelf, and

a Apair of projection and recess connections. be-

tween said partitionand shelf and between which the yieldable connection is located.

A12. The combination with a shelf, of a removable partitiontherefor and a quick detachable. connection between said partition vand shelf requiring lateral i-lexure of a part of said vparti-tion to effect a partial disengagement of said connection followed by a longitudinal movement of the 9; The combination with a metal shelf, of a.

partition to complete the disengagement' of said connection, said detachable connection being yieldable and including a projection and recess connection between said partition and shelf, and a pair of projection and recess connections between said partition and shelf and between which the yieldable connection is 1ocated,'the Aiirst mentioned connection being disengaged before the` pair of connections and causing fiexure of at least a portion of said partition or shelf before the pair of connections is disengaged.

13. A rotatable bin section comprising a bottom adapted to rotate about a central supporting post axis, dividers each angularly spaced from the others and held by. said bottom, a removable bin section front having end flanges bent to lie contiguous ythe outerportion-"of a pair of dividers, means cooperating with said pair of dividers adjacent their outer ends for holding saidend flanges against` radial outward'movement, a third divider between a pair of therst mentioned d ividers and having a flange along its lower edge to which said'bottom' is adapted to be fastened uwith the to-p edge `f said divider unsupported,

' bottom but fixed with respect thereto, a notched guide for the rear edge of said` second mentioned divider and fastened to said support, said divider being longitudinally movable away from said guide and support to engage the divider to said bottom,' the divider being yieldably held in its outward position.

14.A A rotatable binl vsection comprising a bote tom adapted to rotate about a central supporting post axis, dividers each angularly spaced from the others and held by said bottom, a removable bin section front having" end flanges bent to lie contiguous the outer portion of a pair of dividers,

means vcooperating with said pair of dividers addividers, and adapted to be secured'to said bottom by la connection engaged on relative radial movementbetween said removable. divider` andv bottom, said three dividers .being unsupported along their top edges, and a notched guide for the inner edge of said removable dividerflxed with respect to and above said bottom for bracing said removable divider against lateral movement or exure.

ARTHUR w. minimah a support extending at least in part above said. 425

DISCLAIMER 2,086,508.*Arllbu1 W. Mueller, Cincinnati, Ohio. ROTATABLE BIN. Patent dated July 6, 1937. Disclaimer flied May 28,l 1940, by the assignee, The Friclc- Gallagher Manufacturing Company. Hereby enters this disclaimer as to that part of the specification which is eX- pressed in claim l5 of said Letters Patent [Oficial Gazette June 25, 1940.] 

